Education

DVM, University of Wisconsin–Madison
BS Zoology, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Common Courses Taught

BIO281: Introduction to Wildlife Rehabilitation
BIO292: Advanced Clinical Rehabilitation
BIO351: Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
BIO372: Internship in Biology

Scholarly and Professional Achievements

I received a BS in Zoology with Certificates in Environmental Studies and Global Health in 2014 and my DVM in 2018 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. After graduation, I completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Massachusetts. I then moved back to the Midwest for a specialty internship in wildlife rehabilitation medicine through Partners for Wildlife at The Raptor Center and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota. After my training, I was hired as a staff veterinarian at the Wildlife Center of Minnesota and became the veterinary internship supervisor. I joined the team at Lees-McRae in June 2024 and am thrilled to utilize my passion for clinical wildlife medicine in an educational space.

Publications

M. Torkelson, A. Koetz. (2023). Use of Caudoventral-Craniodorsal and Cranioventral-Caudodorsal Oblique Radiographic Views made at 45° to the Frontal Plane for the Evaluation of Pelvic Girdles in Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta). Journal of Herptile Medicine and Surgery. 33(2): 116–120. https://doi.org/10.5818/JHMS-D-22-00027

M. Torkelson, C. Heinze, J. Graham. (2022). Survey of copper and zinc concentrations in commercially available dry ferret diets. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine 42:6-10. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2022.03.006

M. Brown ME, M. Torkelson, G. Olsen, A. Krisp, B. Hartup. (2020). Comparison of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in hand‐ versus parent‐reared whooping cranes (Grus americana). Zoo Biology. 1– 5. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21541

M. Pluemer, S. Dubay, D. Drake, S. Crimmins, T. Veverka, H. Hovanec, M. Torkelson, M. Mueller. (2019). Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and coyotes (Canis latrans) in an urban landscape: prevalence and risk factors for disease. Journal of Urban Ecology 5(1):1–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/jue/juz022

A. Ballmann, M. Torkelson, E. Bohuski, R. Russell, D. Blehert. (2017). Dispersal Hazards of Pseudogymnoascus destructans by Bats and Human Activity at Hibernacula in Summer. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 53(4): 725-735. https://doi.org/10.7589/2016-09-206

Personal Interests

Outside of work, I enjoy adventuring outdoors with my husband, Brian, and our two husky mix dogs, Ylva and Luka. We also are lucky to share our life with two cats, two rabbits, and a corn snake.